#her design is for the most part. a simple uniform although its unique enough to not be boring

[mizzical]

practiced sketches of mai

[somegirlsnerdywords2]

Anime i’ve Watched

That begin with a K (Part 2)!

Yep this is how i’m going to bring over all the anime and manga i’ve watched and posted about on the old blog. It’s not so detailed but it will have to do. Anything new I watch or read from this point on will have their own posts.

Karneval

Genres: action, fantasy, josei, mystery, sci-fi

Synopsis:  While in search of his precious friend, a young boy named Nai falls captive to a beautiful woman, whose looks are matched only by her taste for human flesh. Meanwhile Gareki, a clever thief, is in the midst of robbing her luxurious home. After causing a distraction, Gareki agrees to help Nai escape, but they are discovered upon the woman's return. As she transforms into a ghoulish monster, the boys flee. On the run, Nai and Gareki are found by "Circus," a government defense agency that deals with criminal activity too difficult for the police to handle and protects civilians from "varuga"—terrible monsters that devour humans for sustenance. In the hope that it will lead Nai to his missing friend, he and Gareki decide to join Circus. On their perilous journey, they face dangerous varuga and begin to uncover the secrets behind a shadowy organization known as Kafka. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 7/10

Finished airing in 2013 with a total of 13 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Love the character design and I was interested in the story but the series is far too short. I’d suggest you go read the manga (which is farther along) but it’s rarely updated so I can’t confidently say it’s worth the read. Your choice is read/ watch this and suffer alongside me with the lack of updates or erase its existence from your mind. Your call! 

Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru (Run with the Wind)

Genres: comedy, sports, drama

Synopsis:  Former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru Kurahara is chased away from a convenience store for shoplifting. Shaking off his pursuer, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, another student from his university. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru's agility and persuades him to live in Chikusei-sou, the run-down apartment where Haiji resides along with eight other students. Having lost his entire apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor, Kakeru accepts the offer reluctantly. However, Haiji reveals a secret during Kakeru's welcoming party: the apartment is actually the dormitory of the Kansei University Track Club. He unveils his ultimate goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden—one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. Unfortunately, all the residents apart from Haiji and Kakeru are complete running novices. Worse still, none of the inhabitants are even remotely interested in being involved with Haiji's ridiculous plan! With only months before the deadline, will the fourth-year student be able to convince them otherwise and realize his elusive dream of running in the Hakone Ekiden? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 10/10

Finished airing in 2019 with a total of 23 episodes. 

My Thoughts: This was a masterpiece in my opinion, an anime I won’t soon forget and one of the best of its season without a doubt! Good stuff right here and not in a high school setting which is a change of pace for a sports anime! A very satisfying anime that I highly recommend. 

Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Rises)

Genres: drama, historical, romance, film

Synopsis: Although Jirou Horikoshi's nearsightedness prevents him from ever becoming a pilot, he leaves his hometown to study aeronautical engineering at Tokyo Imperial University for one simple purpose: to design and build planes just like his hero, Italian aircraft pioneer Giovanni Battista Caproni. His arrival in the capital coincides with the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, during which he saves a maid serving the family of a young girl named Naoko Satomi; this disastrous event marks the beginning of over two decades of social unrest and malaise leading up to Japan's eventual surrender in World War II. For Jirou, the years leading up to the production of his infamous Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter aircraft will test every fiber of his being. From witnessing firsthand the growing antisemitism in Germany to fatefully reuniting with Naoko at a summer resort, his many travels and life experiences only urge him onward⁠—even as he realizes both the role of his creations in the war and the reality of the waning health of his beloved. As time marches on, he must confront an impossible question: at what cost does he chase his beautiful dream? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 8/10

A film released in 2013

My Thoughts: Beautiful and dreamy but not one of my favourite anime films unfortunately. Still very good though!

Kekkai Sensen

Genres: action, comedy, superpower, supernatural, vampire, fantasy, shounen

Synopsis:  Supersonic monkeys, vampires, talking fishmen, and all sorts of different supernatural monsters living alongside humans—this has been part of daily life in Hellsalem's Lot, formerly known as New York City, for some time now. When a gateway between Earth and the Beyond opened three years ago, New Yorkers and creatures from the other dimension alike were trapped in an impenetrable bubble and were forced to live together. Libra is a secret organization composed of eccentrics and superhumans, tasked with keeping order in the city and making sure that chaos doesn't spread to the rest of the world. Pursuing photography as a hobby, Leonardo Watch is living a normal life with his parents and sister. But when he obtains the "All-seeing Eyes of the Gods" at the expense of his sister's eyesight, he goes to Hellsalem's Lot in order to help her by finding answers about the mysterious powers he received. He soon runs into Libra, and when Leo unexpectedly joins their ranks, he gets more than what he bargained for. Kekkai Sensen follows Leo's misadventures in the strangest place on Earth with his equally strange comrades—as the ordinary boy unwittingly sees his life take a turn for the extraordinary. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 8/10

Finished airing in 2015 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: I recall this terribly sad episode that was an absolute masterpiece but to be honest the rest of the series didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I didn’t even bother watching the second season when it came out. Do what you will with that information.

Kenka Banchou Otome: Girl Beats Boys

Genres: action, martial arts, school, shoujo, TV short

Synopsis:  Kenka Banchou Otome - Girl Beats Boys, Hinako Nakayama has spent all of her life being raised in state-run orphanages, without ever knowing her family. As she's about to enter high school, Hinako is approached by Hikaru, a boy who claims to be her twin brother. According to Hikaru, Hikaru and Hinako are the children of the head of the powerful Onigashima yakuza family, and Hikaru wants Hinako to switches places with him at Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school overrun with the nation's toughest delinquents. Can Hinako save her brother, find romance, and become the new boss of the school? (Source: Crunchyroll)

My Rating: 7/10

Finished airing in 2017 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Reverse harem style, tv short with a tomboy female lead. Not really long enough to leave much of an impression but fun enough if you have some time to waste. Surprisingly great art/ animation.

Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun

Genres: comedy, seinen, sports

Synopsis:  He is charming, cool, athletic, a good cook, but more importantly, he's a clean freak. Aoyama is idolized and respected by everyone, but they can only admire him from afar due to his mysophobia. Despite that, he plays soccer—a rather dirty sport! As the playmaker for Fujimi High School's soccer club, Aoyama avoids physical contact at all cost and cleanly dribbles toward victory. However, the path to Nationals will not be easy for Fujimi's underdog team. But alongside striker Kaoru Zaizen, Aoyama will show everyone that even as a clean freak, there are things he's willing to get dirty for. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 7/10

Finished airing in 2017 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: comical with what I recall to be very little focus on the actual playing of sports which is a bummer if that’s what you’re looking for. It was alright but there are definitely better comedy (and for sure sports) anime's out there! 

Kill la Kill

Genres: action, comedy, superpower, school

Synopsis:  After the murder of her father, Ryuuko Matoi has been wandering the land in search of his killer. Following her only lead—the missing half of his invention, the Scissor Blade—she arrives at the prestigious Honnouji Academy, a high school unlike any other. The academy is ruled by the imposing and cold-hearted student council president Satsuki Kiryuuin alongside her powerful underlings, the Elite Four. In the school's brutally competitive hierarchy, Satsuki bestows upon those at the top special clothes called "Goku Uniforms," which grant the wearer unique superhuman abilities. Thoroughly beaten in a fight against one of the students in uniform, Ryuuko retreats to her razed home where she stumbles across Senketsu, a rare and sentient "Kamui," or God Clothes. After coming into contact with Ryuuko's blood, Senketsu awakens, latching onto her and providing her with immense power. Now, armed with Senketsu and the Scissor Blade, Ryuuko makes a stand against the Elite Four, hoping to reach Satsuki and uncover the culprit behind her father's murder once and for all. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 9/10

Finished airing in 2014 with a total of 24 episodes. 

My Thoughts: One of my top three favourite anime's of all time despite my not giving it a perfect score and the sole reason i’m such a Trigger fangirl despite the way they continue to disappoint me with each and every new release... Highly recommend! Fair warning there’s plenty of skimpy outfits and fan service which may turn some off but if you can get past it this really is an anime worth checking out. Great story, characters, music and style! A chaotic feast for the eyes and ears! I really should rewatch it... 

[brokenjardaantech]

rk1700 december day 15: snow

written for @rk1700december​. day 15: snow

rhea is female connor. cronos is rk900.

also on ao3

----

Cronos comes back from training one day to Rhea shaking a… thing. With a mansion inside of the clear impenetrable sphere and the suspended white particles, a scan tells him that it is something called a ‘snow globe’ except that it is shaped like a lamp. He sits on the floor behind Rhea and pulls her into the space between his legs, adding a kiss onto her cheek when she is close enough, and he knows the snow globe really has her attention when she doesn’t turn around to return the kiss as usual. He presses their cheeks together, and their skin at the points of contact retracts automatically for an interface. Where did you get this? he asks. Aren’t you cold watching it?

Rhea frowns. I don’t… it cuts off from there. Can you turn off the lights?

Their quarters plunge into darkness with a thought from Cronos, and he watches Rhea slide her pinky underneath the bottom of the lamp and turn it on with a click of a switch. Light spills out of the mansion’s windows, reflecting off the flakes which start spinning automatically propelled by the invisible swirl of the liquid in the globe and shrouding the room in a warm, mesmerising shade of yellow. When the raw brightness of the lamp becomes too much, they both look up at the same time just to see the swirling spots of brightness on the ceiling, on the wall, on each other’s face. It should not be this warm, this magical - mansions of that style are empty, remnants of a time long passed; snow means cold, cold means heat loss, heat loss means… means death to Rhea. Does Rhea know this, or are facts and logic ignored in the face of a beautiful sight? Why does he, advanced as he himself is, also feel the same despite having the ability to pre-construct - in great detail, nonetheless - how they would slowly waste away if left out in the open, how he would have to give up on maintaining Rhea’s system so that she could die before him and live her whole life knowing that she was loved? 

Anchor won’t let that happen, Rhea’s voice pulls him out of his downward spiral. She’s brave enough to protect us from our creator. She won’t… she won’t… her uncertainty grows. I think… 

Cronos shushes her. There is no use speculating, he feels hypocritical when he says it. We have other things to worry about.

Such as?

My training. The conflict that Anchor still refuses to tell us about. Your condition.

Very true.

Rhea wriggles in his arms. They both stand, he lets her drag him towards their bed, and she places the snow globe lamp on the bedside table before flopping down onto the bed, bringing Cronos with her. They cuddle close together without compromising their view on the light show, and although Rhea falls asleep not long after, thoughts do not stop swirling in Cronos’ head like the flakes in the snow globe.

    A few days later, he still hasn’t figured out where the snow globe came from. Neither the item itself nor the box it came from bear enough evidence for him to reconstruct the events of its arrival into the room as if it materialised out of nowhere. Again the grey backdrop of his reconstruction software, he watches the yellow outline of Rhea’s figure wake up from her nap, see the box on the floor and, instead of pinging him to check if it is anything explosive or harmful, open the cover and slide the block of shock-absorbing material out of the container. The material comes off soon afterwards, and he sees Rhea’s reconstruction stare at the particles suspended in the globe for a few minutes until - presumably - most of the snow has fallen, after which she picks it up and switches it on just to drop it onto the shock-absorbing material; even without a face, Cronos can sense Rhea’s shock and panic as she carefully takes the lamp in hand once more before assuming the posture he found her in. He blinks, colour returning to his vision, and he immediately sends a report to Anchor. A few hours pass during which she forwards updates from site security regularly to him, Cronos preparing his mind for an upcoming wing-wide sweep which will remove him - and Rhea, by extension - from their quarters for at least half a day as all the reports return inconclusive, but it isn’t until a full day afterwards that the human brings two armed escorts with her and orders them to not only bring the androids to another room but also stay with them at all times. When he asks her about it, he can feel her eyes scanning the room and landing on the origin of their troubles, and her gaze does not soften even as it sweeps over Rhea who flinches and hides behind Cronos.

‘Someone managed to sneak an unauthorised item deep into this facility without being detected,’ a biotic field so weak that it is barely detectable fizzles and expands from her body until it fills the entire room. ‘This is a security breach and I’m not risking your safety.’

‘Then why didn’t you come earlier?’ he puts an arm around Rhea and guides her towards the door even as he says so. ‘Why now?’

‘Use your processors, Cronos.’

The door slides shut behind them, and the click that follows and the change in the colour of the hologram signify the lock engaging. They are locked out of their own quarters. Next to him, Rhea shivers, making Cronos realise that they don’t even have the time to grab her jacket.

‘C’mon,’ one of their escorts says and gestures towards the direction they should go with their gun. The uniform and helmet are designed to hide as many identifiers as possible, and now Cronos can’t even scan them to know if they’re human or android. ‘This way. We’ve got your new place stocked up.’

Their new, hopefully-temporary quarters is no different from their old one apart from the standard-issue bed which now feels a bit narrow, but since it also means more cuddling and snuggling with Rhea underneath layers of covers, he isn’t complaining about his current situation despite the lack of answers on Anchor’s part. 

Who did answer his questions, on the other hand, is Elijah.

Cronos, the email reads, it’s nice to hear from you. For the sake of keeping things pleasant, I have decided to ignore the fact that the snow globe you mentioned seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and to answer your first question: yes, I do have experience with snow. A lot of it, in fact, as my childhood home is quite famous for being cold and harsh in winter, and our winters remain long despite the influence of climate change. Since the environment I grew up in was not exactly… child-friendly, it had always been better for me to focus on the unique patterns of snowflakes than the death and lifelessness it symbolises - easier on my poor young brain, and one needed all the hope and discovery they could find in the cold land far up north.

As for your second question about the warmth you feel when you look at the snow globe: I have always found it ironic that winter coincides with traditions and customs that, under more pleasant circumstances, should provide warmth and support to a person, be it familial love or that between friends and/or lovers, and I must apologise for not being able to provide a more substantial answer as my personal experience with said traditions and customs are sparse and in between. Those I did experience, however, I remember clearly to this day. I will not discuss the details here as it will pose a security risk and be a breach of Alliance protocol, but should you wish to pursue the matter further, feel free to ask Anchor about it. Councillor’s approval. Signed, Reed

Cronos wonders if Elijah knows that Anchor would probably kill him if he tried to talk to her right now but sends him a reply anyway to thank him for his input and direction. Their skins receding at their points of contact, he interfaces with Rhea and plays the recording of the snow globe’s projection in their original quarters on a loop until it puts both of them to sleep so that he doesn’t have to think.

    Their return to their quarters comes as suddenly as their departure. Anchor, as usual, provides little to no explanation apart from a simple ‘the situation has been handled,’ and therefore as Cronos watches Rhea crawl all over her original home to examine whether everything is in place - even the snow globe is, in fact, and Cronos has to ask about it - he decides that a visit to the human is needed, one way or another. Rhea has already turned on the lamp and is ready to switch off the lights as well when he asks her if she wants to follow him to find Anchor, but she willingly goes with him under the condition that she is allowed to bring the lamp with her (and of course he lets her; he rationalises that if Anchor allowed the lamp to remain, it means the lamp is safe). Finding the human in a large facility is, however, another can of worms in its entirety; it is after fifteen long minutes of wandering around and probably annoying the brains out of site personnel by asking them about Anchor’s whereabouts that they stand in front of a locked door leading to the observation deck. Taking a breath he doesn’t necessarily need physically, he holds Rhea’s hand tight in his grasp and knocks with his other one. A few seconds of silence. He feels Anchor’s biotics sneaking up from the minuscule gap underneath the door and gives him a poke. The lock disengages with a click.

‘Come in.’

Cronos interfaces with the touchpad to open the door. Rhea lets go of him and barrels in, stopping next to the human only when she realises that Anchor, who is sitting on the floor parallel to the floor-length windows, doesn’t seem to be interested in her and is staring at the floodlight-illuminated barren landscape outside. She kneels to place the lamp in front of the human, and that is when the latter turns and nudges the lamp towards the android. ‘Keep it,’ she says, her eyes not leaving the view once. She sounds… tired. ‘You seem to like it.’

As usual, Rhea turns towards Cronos to indicate that she wants him to answer for her. ‘She does,’ he replies. ‘Is that why you left it in our quarters?’

Anchor lays her gaze on him. ‘Ripping an object a person is attached to without said person’s consent has been proved to be traumatic. My orders are to take care of the two of you, and that means no unnecessary harm from me.’ She leans forward to place the lamp in Rhea’s arms properly. ‘I might agree with the Administrator in a lot of things, but this is not one of them.’ A cock of her head as the rings of her eyes seem to glow brighter, but it can be a trick of the floodlights outside. ‘Why are you here anyway?’

‘Do you know where or whom did the lamp come from?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do we want to know?’

‘No.’

‘Why?’

Anchor shrugs, her face carefully blank. ‘There’s a fight out there. No use dragging you into all that.’

‘What fight?’

‘None of your business. Hopefully, at least. Any more questions?’

‘Yes, actually,’ he sees Rhea shaking the globe again. ‘When we turned on the lamp, it… snows in the globe. Logically, snow is associated with winter, and Rhea and I should have felt cold when looking at the artificial snowfall. However, both the scene and its projection brought us a warmth that should not be associated with snowfall. Is it a normal reaction? Elijah suggested asking you about this strange phenomenon.’

The human looks at Rhea and watches her entertain herself with the snow globe, and for a few seconds there is silence. Then, gesturing to the space in front of herself, ‘Sit down.’

Cronos mirrors her posture and sits down leaning against the glass with his legs outstretched. Seeing that her - what exactly is his relationship with Rhea anyway? - successor is on the floor, Rhea crawls underneath his arm without being prompted and snuggles close with the lamp balanced in her lap, a small smile on her face as she lays her head on his shoulder and continues looking at the particles in the snow globe softly like it both contains all the answers and is the most lovely thing in the universe.

‘One way to explain it without breaching my vows is that a… holiday where people celebrate together coincides with winter in the northern hemisphere of earth,’ Anchor’s line of sight turns towards the landscape outside once more. ‘Some places snow, some places don’t, but if we’re talking about stereotypes, yes, it snows while everyone stays indoors to enjoy their time with their loved ones. Snow-blanketed outdoors, fire-warmed and brightly-lit indoors; good, warm food, companionship, a chance to meet with one another - these are just a few images and expectations of the holiday.’

‘And to you?’

‘Sort of similar to this. Food, people I wanted to be with, warm on the inside, cold on the outside. Sometimes we exchanged presents, sometimes we didn’t, some were even worse.’

‘“Worse?”’

‘Try running away from an incompetent father and a bitch of a mother with your sibling even though you know a blizzard is coming. Worst winter ever, but that was also the last one we had to suffer through with our parents, and it got substantially better afterwards.’

‘Do I want to know the details?’

‘No.’

‘Understandable?’ he can’t imagine two humans surviving the cold, but then again humans are not supposed to be able to control dark energy either, and here they are. ‘Then what were the other winters like?’

‘I just described it to you.’

‘Yes but…’ Cronos struggles to convey that he wants to know more without sounding too eager, ‘I want more details.’

‘Details, huh?’ Anchor’s voice now matches the blankness of her face. ‘You sure you want to hear about earth? There isn’t much worth reminiscing.’

‘They will all be new to me.’

‘Fine,’ the human straightens herself. Her eyes turn glassy. ‘There was no snow the first time I truly celebrated the holiday, but it rained starting from the afternoon and continued well into the night. I wanted to study for my exam and had been doing so since the beginning of the holiday, so I thought… I could spare a day with my sibling. He busted arse for the past ten years of his life trying to raise a kid even when he was just a kid himself as well and getting a high school diploma and earning extra cash to feed the two of us because we ate so damned much thanks for unexplained space magic, and that was the first winter he didn’t have to worry about our heat cutting off in the middle of the night and giving us hypothermia.’ A pause. ‘I sneaked downstairs the night before to put the present for him next to that tiny-arse tree since it was so small that there wasn’t enough space underneath to shove that box into. He wants an actual holiday, I wanted to give him one, so I even got the damned book wrapped in recycled paper. It was just a sodding book I had seen him eye when we had walked past bookstores, and he cried - legit cried - because I gave him a damned book he wanted and wrapped it up nice and tidy with no tape. I learnt on that day that people can actually cry and look so happy at the same time. Then we had brunch, he watched me play some video games before going for a nap, he woke up, we had dinner, we watched the movie version of a book associated with the holiday as he sipped on hot chocolate, and we went to bed. All without being scared once that we would need to brave the chill to get some last-minute groceries - supplies - or that we wouldn't have enough money to keep ourselves full the week after.’

She ends it there, and Cronos gives himself a few minutes to let that sink in. ‘Sounds like you love each other a lot and celebrated it through the holiday.’

A dull thud. Cronos draws his eyes away from the lamp falling out of Rhea’s limp hands and follows Anchor’s gaze just to see clunks of ice slightly larger than the nail on his thumb hitting the ground, turning into smoke before they can hit the floodlights, shattering on the reinforced glass of the observation deck and subliming under the heat, and soon the ground is covered in a thin layer of broken pieces of dry ice. Mars’ own version of snow.

‘Is this normal?’ Cronos asks. 

A small smile appears on Anchor’s lips. ‘Every single summer.’

----

the snow globe/lamp in the fic: 

[ciathyzareposts]

New Tricks for an Old Z-Machine, Part 1: Digging the Trenches

One of the most oddly inspiring stories I know of in all computing history is that of the resurrection and re-purposing of the Z-Machine, Infocom’s virtual machine of the 1980s, to serve a whole new community of interactive-fiction enthusiasts in the 1990s and well beyond. Even as the simple 8-bit computers for which it had originally been designed became obsolete, and then became veritable antiques, the Z-Machine just kept soldiering on, continuing to act as the delivery system for hundreds of brand new games that post-dated the company that had created it by years and eventually decades. The community of hobbyist practitioners who spawned the Interactive Fiction Renaissance of the mid-1990s made the Z-Machine one of their technological bedrocks for reasons more sentimental than practical: most of them worshiped Infocom, and loved the way that distributing their games via Infocom’s venerable virtual machine made them feel like the anointed heirs to that legacy. The Z-Machine was reborn, in other words, largely out of nostalgia. Very soon, though, the hobbyists’ restless creativity pushed and twisted the Z-Machine, and the genre of games it hosted, in all sorts of ways of which even Infocom at their most experimental could never have dreamed. Thus a regressive became a progressive impulse.

In the end, then, a design which Joel Berez and Marc Blank first sketched out hurriedly at their kitchen tables in 1979, in response to the urgently immediate problem of how to move their DEC PDP-10 game of Zork out of the MIT computer lab and onto microcomputers, didn’t fall out of general use as a delivery medium for new games until after 2010. And even today it still remains in active use as a legacy technology, the delivery medium for half or more of the best text adventures in the historical canon. In terms of the sheer number of platforms on which it runs, it must have a strong claim to being the most successful virtual machine in history; it runs on everything from e-readers to game consoles, from mobile phones to mainframes, from personal computers to electronic personal assistants. (To paraphrase an old joke, it really wouldn’t surprise me to learn that someone is running it on her toaster…) Its longevity is both a tribute to the fundamental soundness of its original design and to the enduring hold which Infocom’s pioneering interactive fiction of the 1980s has had upon more recent practitioners of the form. Like so many technology stories, in other words, the story of the Z-Machine is really about people.

One of the more ironic aspects of the Z-Machine story is the fact that it was never designed to be promulgated in this way. It was never intended to be a community software project; it was no Linux, no Mozilla, no Java. The ideological framework that would lead to such projects didn’t even exist apart from a handful of closeted university campuses at the time Berez and Blank were drawing it up. The Z-Machine was a closed, proprietary technology, closely guarded by Infocom during their heyday as one of their greatest competitive advantages over their rivals.

The first order of business for anyone outside of Infocom who wished to do anything with it, then, was to figure it out — because Infocom certainly wasn’t telling. This first article in a series of three is the story of those first intrepid Z-Machine archaeologists, who came to it knowing nothing and began, bit by bit, to puzzle it out. Little did they know that they were laying the foundation of an artistic movement. Graham Nelson, the most important single technical and creative architect of the Interactive Fiction Renaissance of the 1990s (and thus the eventual subject of my second and third articles), said it most cogently: “If I have hacked deeper than them, it is because I stand in their trenches.”

Although the Z-Machine was decidedly not intended as a community project, Infocom in their heyday made no particular attempt to hide the abstract fact that they were the proud possessors of some unusual technology. The early- and mid-1980s, Infocom’s commercial peak, was still the Wild West era of personal computing in the United States, with dozens of incompatible models jockeying for space on store shelves. Almost every published profile of Infocom — and there were many of them — made mention of the unique technology which somehow allowed them to write a game on a big DEC PDP-10 of the sort usually found only in universities and research laboratories, then move it onto as many as 25 normally incompatible microcomputers all at once. This was, perhaps even more so than their superb parser and general commitment to good writing and design, their secret weapon, allowing them to makes games for the whole of the market, including parts of it that were served by virtually no other publishers.

So, even if highfalutin phrases like “virtual machine” weren’t yet tripping off the tongue of the average bedroom hacker, it wasn’t hard to devise what Infocom must be doing in the broad strokes. The specifics, however, were another matter. For, while Infocom didn’t hide the existence of a Z-Machine in the abstract, they had no vested interest in advertising how it worked.

The very first outsiders to begin to explore the vagaries of the Z-Machine actually had no real awareness of doing so. They were simply trying to devise ways of copying Infocom’s games — most charitably, so that they could make personal backups of them; most likely, so that they could trade them with their friends. They published their findings in organs like The Computist, an underground magazine for Apple II owners which focused mainly on defeating copy protection, hacking games, and otherwise doing things that the software publishers would prefer you didn’t. By 1984, you could learn how Infocom’s (unimpressive) copy-protection scheme worked from the magazine; by 1986, you could type in a program listing from it that would dump most of the text in a game for cheating purposes.

But plumbing the depths of a virtual machine whose very existence was only implicit was hard work, especially when one was forced to carry it out on such a basic computer as the Apple II. People tended to really dive in only when they had some compelling, practical reason. Thus users of the Apple II and other popular, well-supported platforms mostly contented themselves with fairly shallow explorations such as those just described. Users of some other platforms, however, weren’t fortunate enough to enjoy the ongoing support of the company that had made their computer and a large quantity of software on the shelves at their local computer store; they had a stronger motivation for going deeper.

Over the course of the 1980s, the American computing scene became steadily more monolithic, as an industry that had once boasted dozens of incompatible systems collapsed toward the uniformity that would mark most of the 1990s, when MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, and (to rather a lesser extent) the Apple Macintosh would be the only viable options for anyone wishing to run the latest shrink-wrapped commercial software. This gradual change was reflected in Infocom’s product catalog. After peaking at 25 or so machines in 1984, they released their final few games in 1988 and 1989 on just four of them. The realities of the market by then were such that it just didn’t make sense to support more platforms than that.

But technical transitions like these always come with their fair share of friction. In this case, plenty of people who had been unlucky or unwise enough to purchase one of the orphaned machines were left to consider their options. Some of them gave up on computing altogether, while others sucked it up and bought another model. But some of these folks either couldn’t afford to buy something else, or had fallen hopelessly in love with their first computer, or were just too stubborn to give it up. This state of affairs led directly to the world’s first full-fledged Z-Machine interpreter to be born outside of Infocom.

The orphaned machine at the heart of this story is the Texas Instruments 99/4A, a sturdy, thoughtfully designed little computer in many respects which enjoyed a spectacular Christmas of 1982, only to be buried by Jack Tramiel under an avalanche of Commodore VIC/20s and 64s the following year. On October 28, 1983, Texas Instruments announced they were pulling out of the home-computer market entirely, thus marking the end of one of the more frantic boom-and-bust cycles in computing history. It left in its wake hundreds of thousands of people with 99/4As on their desks or in their closets — both those who had bought the machine when it was still a going proposition and many more who snatched up some of the unsold inventory which Texas Instruments dumped onto the market afterward, at street prices of $50 or less. The number of active 99/4A users would inevitably decrease sharply as time went on, but some clung to their machines like the first loves they often were, for all of the reasons cited above.

This little 99/4A fraternity would prove sufficiently loyal to the platform to support an under-the-radar commercia- software ecosystem of their own into the 1990s. For many users, the platform was appealing not least in that it never lost the homegrown charm of the very earliest days of personal computing, when every user was a programmer to one degree or another, when the magazines were full of do-it-yourself hardware projects and type-in program listings, and when one kid working from his bedroom could change the accepted best practices of everyone else almost overnight. The Z-Machine interpreter that interests us today was a reflection of this can-do spirit.

Infocom’s first taste of major success had corresponded with the 99/4A’s one great Christmas. Naturally, they had made sure their games were available on one of the hottest computers in the country. Even after Texas Instruments officially abandoned the 99/4A, there was no immediate reason to ignore its many owners. Thus Infocom continued to make versions of their games for the machine through The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in September of 1984. In all, they released fourteen 99/4A games.

But continuing to support any given machine eventually tended to become a more complicated proposition than simply continuing to use an already-extant interpreter. The Z-Machine in reality was more of a moving target than the abstract idea behind it might suggest. Infocom’s games got steadily bigger and richer as time went on, with more text, better parsers, and more ambitious world models. The original Z-Machine, as designed in 1979, had a theoretical maximum story-file size of 128 K, but the practical limitations of the machines running the interpreters kept the early games from reaching anything close to this size. (The original Zork, for example, Infocom’s very first game, was just 77 K.) As story files pushed ever closer to their theoretical maximum size in the years that followed, they began to exceed the practical limitations of some existing interpreters. When that happened, Infocom had to decide whether reworking the interpreter to support a larger story file was possible at all, and, if so, whether it was worth the effort in light of a platform’s sales figures. Following Hitchhiker’s (story-file size: 110 K), their fourteenth game, but before Suspect (story-file size: 120 K), their fifteenth, Infocom judged the answer to one or both of those questions to be no in the case of the 99/4A.

Barry Boone, the first person outside of Infocom to create a full-fledged Z-Machine interpreter.

As one might expect, this decision left a number of 99/4A users sorely disappointed. Among them was Barry Boone, a clever young man just out of high school who was already one of the leading lights of 99/4A hackery. Having read enough about Infocom to understand that their game format must be in some sense portable, he started doggedly digging into the details of its implementation. Soon he was able to make a clear delineation between the interpreter running natively on his machine and the story file it executed — a delineation the Apple II crowd writing for The Computist had yet to manage. And then he uncovered the big secret: that the interpreter packaged with one game could actually run the story file from another — even if said story file originated on a platform other than the 99/4A! Boone:

Having worked out the file format, I wrote a program to crunch the non-TI files and build the TI files. The resulting files appeared to work, but I quickly discovered [a] problem. If I converted an older game that already existed in TI format, everything worked perfectly. But with the newer games, there was a big problem.

The problem was that the interpreter software written for the TI had a number of bugs, many of which did not show up with the original set of games, but became all too apparent with the newer ones and made them unplayable. So I began a process of reverse-engineering the Z-Code interpreter for the TI. Once I reached a point of having recreated the source code, I began working on making the code more efficient, and fixing numerous bugs in the implementation. The largest bug I encountered was a vocabulary-table bug. Basically, the original TI interpreter would hit an overflow bug if the vocabulary table was too large, and the binary-search algorithm would start searching the wrong area of memory to look up words. This had the effect of making the last portion of the vocabulary inaccessible, and made the game impossible to play.

I also added a number of enhancements that allowed the games to load about twenty times faster, and modifications to play the games on TI systems equipped with 80-column displays. Finally, I had to make a second variation of the interpreter so that persons who had an extra 8 K of RAM (known as a Super Cart, or Super Space module) could play some of the games that required a larger memory footprint than 24 K of memory buffer. These games included Leather Goddesses.

Boone estimates that he finished his interpreter around 1986, whereupon he promptly began sharing it with his network of friends and fellow 99/4A enthusiasts, who used it to play many of the newer Infocom story files, transferring them from disks for other platforms. Boone was stymied only by the games from Infocom’s Interactive Fiction Plus line, such as A Mind Forever Voyaging and Trinity. Those games used an expanded version of the Z-Machine, known internally as version 4 — the mature version of the original virtual machine was version 3 — which expanded the available memory space to 256 K, far beyond what the 99/4A could possibly manage. Even without them, however, Boone gave himself and his mates ten new Infocom games to play — i.e., all of those released for the 128 K Z-Machine between October of 1984 and July of 1987, when this original incarnation of the virtual machine made its last bow in Infocom packaging.

But even that wasn’t quite the end of the story. An obscure footnote to Infocom’s history took shape in late 1988 or early 1989, when Chris Bobbitt, founder of a company called Asgard, the 99/4A software publisher that most resembled a real business as opposed to a hobbyist project, had the idea of contacting Infocom themselves to ask permission to market the newer games, running under Boone’s interpreter, as legitimate commercial products. Although Bobbitt doubtless didn’t realize it at the time, Infocom was by then on the verge of being shut down, and Mediagenic, their less-than-doting parent company, were also beginning to feel the financial stresses that would force them into bankruptcy in 1990. They saw Bobbitt’s proposal as a handy way to clear their warehouse of old stock and make some desperately needed cash. Jim Reiss, who worked at Asgard at the time as the last remaining full-time 99/4A software developer in the world, remembers how the deal went down:

[Bobbitt] contacted Infocom to ask for permission to release the later Infocom releases, and was given permission to do so on one condition: that the packaging and disks had to be originals for other systems, relabeled (the packaging) and reformatted (the disks) for use with the TI. Infocom scoured their warehouse and sent Chris two very large boxes of the titles he was asking to reproduce—and noted on the invoice that these boxes included every single copy of the relevant titles that Infocom still had in their possession. Some of the titles were relatively plentiful, but others were included in much lower numbers. The boxes only contained four copies of Leather Goddesses of Phobos, for example. All other titles had at least ten copies each, and some had a lot more. He was permitted to buy more copies from remainders in the retail channels, though, so it is possible there are more properly badged Asgard copies of the titles that were harder to find. All of the stock he received from Infocom was gone in a matter of months.

These games, which Bobbitt bought for $5 apiece and sold on for several times that, thereby became the last new Infocom games ever sold in their original packaging — out-of-print games from a dead company sold to owners of an orphaned computer.

Asgard prepared their own platform-specific reference card after the Infocom example and inserted it into the box.

Well before Asgard entered the scene, however, another, more structured and sustainable project had led to a Z-Machine interpreter much more amenable to being ported and built upon than Boone’s incarnation of same for an idiosyncratic, bare-bones, orphaned platform. Not long after Boone first started sharing his 99/4A interpreter with friends, a few students at the University of Sydney in far-off Australia started disassembling another of Infocom’s own interpreters — in this case one for Zilog Z80-based computers running the operating system CP/M. The group included in their ranks David Beazley, George Janczuk, Peter Lisle, Russell Hoare, and Chris Tham. They gave themselves the rather grandiose name of the InfoTaskforce, but they initially regarded the project, said Janczuk to me recently, strictly as “a form of mental calisthenics”: “This was never meant to be a public exercise.”

Still, the group had several advantages which Boone had lacked — in addition, that is, to the advantage of sheer numbers. Boone had been a bedroom hacker working on fairly primitive hardware, where cryptic assembly language, highly specific to the computer on which it was running, was the only viable option. The InfoTaskforce, on the other hand, had more advanced hardware at their disposal, and were steeped in the culture of institutional hacking, where portable C was the most popular programming language and software was typically distributed as source code, ready to be analyzed, ported, and expanded upon by people other than its creators, quite possibly working on platforms of which said creators had never dreamed. And then, thanks to their university, the InfoTaskforce was connected to the Internet, long before most people had even heard of such a thing; this gave them a way to share their work quickly with others across a wide, international swath of computing. The contrast with the segregated ghetto that was the world of the 99/4A is telling.

David Beazley, who did almost all of the actual coding for the InfoTaskforce interpreter — the others had their hands full enough with reverse-engineering the Z-Machine architecture — did so in C on a first-generation Apple Macintosh. On May 25, 1987, he used this machine to compile the first truly portable Z-Machine interpreter in history. Within a week, he and his mates had also gotten it compiled and running on an MS-DOS machine and a big DEC VAX. (Ironically, the latter was the successor to the PDP-10 line so famously employed by Infocom themselves; thus one might say that the Z-Machine had already come full-circle.)

As Janczuk remembers it, the first version of the interpreter to reach the Internet actually did so accidentally. He gave it to a friend of his at university, who, as so many friends have done over the years, uploaded it without permission on June 2, 1987. There followed an immediate outpouring of interest from all over the world, which greatly surprised the interpreter’s own creators. It prompted them to release an official version 1.0, capable of playing any story file for the standard — i.e., 128 K — Z-Machine on August 1, 1987. Already by this time, the Commodore Amiga personal computer and several more big machines had been added to the list of confirmed-compatible host platforms. It was a milestone day in the history of interactive fiction; Infocom’s games had been freed from the tyranny of the hardware for which they’d originally shipped. And they could remain free of the vicissitudes and fashions of hardware forevermore, as long as there was an enterprising hacker ready to tweak an existing interpreter’s source code to suit the latest gadget to come down the pipe. (So far, there has been no shortage of such hackers…)

With their university days coming to an end, the InfoTaskforce boys worked on their interpreter only in fits and starts over the years that followed. Not until 1990 did they finish adding support for the Interactive Fiction Plus line; not until 1992, in a final burst of activity, did they add support for Infocom’s last few text-only games, which ran under what was known internally as the version 5 Z-Machine. This last release of the InfoTaskforce interpreter actually attracted a bit of scoffing for its inefficiency, and for generally lagging behind what other hackers had done by that point in other interpreters.

In reality, information and inspiration rather than the software itself were the most important legacies of the InfoTaskForce interpreter. Beazley’s C source told you almost all of what you really needed to know about the Z-Machine, so long as you were sufficiently motivated to dig out the information you needed; doing so was certainly a fair sight more pleasant than poring over eye-watering printouts of cryptic disassembled Z80 machine language, as Beazley and his pals had been forced to do before coming up with it. The InfoTaskforce interpreter thus became the gateway through which the Z-Machine burst into the public domain, even as Infocom was soon to collapse and abandon their virtual machine. This was a role which Boone’s interpreter, for all its naïve brilliance, just wasn’t equipped to play, for all of the reasons we’ve already explored.

An enterprising American hacker named Mark Howell did perhaps the most to build upon the foundation of the InfoTaskforce interpreter during the half-decade after its initial appearance. His own interpreter bore the name of ZIP (for “Z-Machine Implementation Program”), a name it shared with the popular compression format, to enormous confusion all the way around — although, to be fair, this was also the name by which Infocom knew their own interpreters. ZIP was faster and less buggy than the InfoTaskforce interpreter, and for this reason it soon surpassed its older sibling in popularity. But Howell also delved further into the architecture of the Z-Machine than anyone before him, analyzing its design like a computer scientist might rather than as a hacker simply trying to write a quick-and-dirty clone of Infocom’s existing interpreters. When he came up for air, he uploaded his set of “ZTools” — programs for probing story files in all sorts of ways, including a disassembler for the actual code they contained. These tools did much to set the stage for the next phase of the Z-Machine’s resurrection and liberation.

In 1992, another building block fell into place when Activision shipped their Lost Treasures of Infocom collection to unexpected success. It and its sequel collected all of the Infocom games together in one place at a reasonable price, stored as neatly discrete story files ready to be fed into either the original Infocom interpreters included on the disks or an alternative of one’s choice. Lost Treasures shipped only in versions for MS-DOS, the Apple Macintosh, and the Commodore Amiga — the last three commercially viable personal-computing platforms left in North America by that time (and the Amiga wouldn’t enjoy that status much longer). But users of orphaned and non-North American platforms were soon passing around the tip that, if you could just get the story files off of the original Lost Treasures disks, they could be run on their own platforms as well with one of the interpreters that had by now spread far and wide. For example, our old friends at The Computist, still carrying the 8-bit torch in these twilight days of the Apple II, published instructions on how to do just that — a fitting end point to their earliest explorations of the Infocom format.

Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, the magazine Acorn User published a similar article for users of the Acorn Archimedes, a machine that was virtually unknown outside of Britain, a few parts of mainland Europe, and Australasia. (“It’s hard to conceive of videogame nostalgia,” they wrote of the Lost Treasures collections, “but this is as close as it gets.” Little did they know…) It so happened that an Oxford doctoral candidate in mathematics named Graham Nelson was a stalwart Acorn loyalist and a regular reader of that magazine. By the time the article in question appeared, the window opened by the InfoTaskforce interpreter and all the software that had followed it, combined with the Lost Treasures collections, had already led him to begin sliding the next couple of building blocks of the Interactive Fiction Renaissance into place.

Infocom’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy running on an Acorn Archimedes — a platform for which it was never officially released — under a third-party Z-Machine interpreter by Edouard Poor.

(Sources: The Computist 5, 7, 34, 41, 47, 57, 58, 63, and 86; Acorn User of July 1993; Asgard Software’s newsletters from 1989 and 1990. Online sources include Barry Boone’s memories of writing his Z-Machine interpreter at The Museum of Computer Adventure Game History and his bio for the TI99ers Hall of Fame. The original source for the InfoTaskforce interpreter can be found in various file archives. My huge thanks go to Barry Boone, Jim Reiss, and George Janczuk for talking to me about their pioneering early work in Z-Machine archaeology.)

source http://reposts.ciathyza.com/new-tricks-for-an-old-z-machine-part-1-digging-the-trenches/

[ishikagupta3796]

Ultimate Tennis Chain Buying Guide

TENNIS CHAINS: HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

A tennis chain is a chain that contains small diamonds or gems connected by a thin, precious metal chain. As a piece of elegant jewelry, tennis chains are usually made of 14K or 18K gold, or platinum.

The name ‘tennis chain’ originates from the 1987 US Open when professional tennis player, Chris Evert, lost her diamond chain during a match. Evert asked the officials to pause the game to look for her chain—all while spectators and TV viewers watched the search. Since that day, the line diamond chain has been referred to as the tennis chain. Viewers and tennis players alike have been inspired to wear diamond chains themselves.

However, there are many other types of diamond chains that are available. Here is a list of the top trending diamond chains in the market.

1. Round Neck Diamond Chain:

During the olden times, diamonds chains were thought of as adornments for women only. With the advent of the sexual male, diamonds have staged a serious comeback in men’s fashion as well. These round neck diamond chains are made up with the pendant of round diamond stone. The classic diamond chain is suitable for everyday use.

2. Blue kyanite Diamond Chain:

There are many diamond chains designs available in the market. This simple, delicate diamond chain is perfect for casual wear or any special occasion. The wire of the chain is plated with silver and associated with a blue kyanite attractive pendant. The minimal small white diamond is used to add an extra glance to the pendant. The design is a flexible thin chain consists of a single row matched individually set diamond that simply exudes class and gives the timeless glamor.

3. Diamond Embossed Circular Chain:

This beautiful diamond embossed chain contains the diamond stones of brown and white color, hooped with the single diamond plated chain. These chains are used for wedding and other functions and wearing this chain on your neck enhances your whole appearances. These round shaped diamonds are wire wrapped with the stones and give the stunning look for your neck.

4. Vintage Yellow Diamond Ruby Chain:

Vintage 50’s diamond chain is also a populous design amongst all ages of women. This elegant Italian gold with yellow diamond chain is dripping with the precious gemstones. This can be hanging on a flat gold chain which gives the special and a gorgeous view for the other while compared with other design

5. White Glass Diamond Chain:

Diamond chains feature single or multiple stones which are attached or set in the links of a chain which encircles the neck. Some of the Diamond chain designs are quite dainty with their pendant designs. This white glass diamond chain made up with white glass diamonds and hangings with a gold-plated chain and it gives the traditional glance.

6. Unique Diamond Pendant Chain:

Most men and women had the pleasure of seeing a genuine black diamond neck chain. The black diamond chains are rare. The unique diamond pendant chain decorated with diamond stones gets hanged with the thin diamond plated chain. Due to the clarity of the diamond pendant of this chain gives the looks of multi-color.

7. Fully Diamond Necklace:

The fully diamond necklace is made up with heavy pure diamond designs and it was heavy, diamond is set in rounded closures, features double links for the chain measures 12.5 in length has hook closure. It has a complex design with its texture and the necklace is suitable for any kind of outfit.

8. Fashionable Diamond Chain:

The fashionable diamond chain is designed with dark, broad pendant and wire wrapped with diamond thin chain gives an elegant and classy simple look. This can be masterfully handcrafted design diamond, whether you choose to wear this chain as a fashion gift or as the perfect diamond accompaniment on your wedding day, rest assured that this one-kind-of diamond chain is stunning.

9. Floating Cross Diamond Chain:

Countless of diamond chains are available for men. You can choose from a smooth round diamond or a stone with numerous facets. They are also available in light weighted. This floating cross diamond chain is separately used by Christians and they have the hope about this cross chain, while you wore this chain, Jesus will always help to solve your problems and worries.

10. Diamond with Gold Chain:

Diamond with gold links chain, is made with the gold plated beaded chain and the center of the chain white diamonds are placed. Simple and minimalist delicate gold with diamond chain highlights lovely natural diamond stones at the center of the chain. This can be light-weighted and classic. You can wear this necklace alone or a welcome and stunning addition to an eye-catching chain stack.

ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF A TENNIS CHAIN

Tennis chains are jewelry pieces made with many small diamonds mounted in tiny metal settings and joined together. Here are some tips on how to evaluate the most important characteristics of a tennis chain when shopping for one.

Diamond for a Tennis Chains

Color. Generally, the whiter the diamonds in your chains, the higher quality their color is (unless the stones are fancy-color diamonds).

Clarity. When it comes to tennis chains, clarity is not as important as the color for a simple reason: The diamonds in these pieces are too small for most of their flaws to be visible with the naked eye unless you look from a very close distance.

Uniformity. Whatever the exact grade of your diamonds’ color, it is much more important that it be the same for all stones. You don’t want a tennis chain that looks like a patchwork of randomly ordered white and yellowish diamonds.

The Structure of the Tennis Chains

Diamond settings: Check how the individual diamonds are mounted in the chain. Their settings should ensure that the stones won’t fall off easily and should offer some protection against hits. Settings in which each stone is held by four prongs are also a good choice.

Links: Look at the links of the tennis chain – they should be robust and not easy to break in case the chain is pulled hard.

Clasp: Test the clasp to make sure it closes safely and does not open easily. It should be solid and not easy to bend or break.

Flexibility: It is good for a tennis chain to be flexible because if it is too rigid, it could break easily whenever you twist it (which happens often when wearing such pieces).

To test the chain’s flexibility, dangle it, and see if it hangs straight in the air without kinking.

Choosing the Metal for the Chains

When deciding on metal for your tennis chain, you should keep in mind that there is a tradeoff between durability and price.

For example, yellow gold and silver are softer and will wear down faster. However, they are a good and affordable choice if you are not going to wear the chain every day.

More durable alternatives such as platinum are more expensive but will allow you to wear your tennis chain more often without being afraid that its parts will wear out quickly and break.

White gold is a good middle-ground choice as it is more durable than yellow gold but not as expensive as platinum.

When it comes to determining the quality of a tennis chain, you’ll want to consider the metal used, along with the quality and beauty of the diamonds.

Metal type and color—usually platinum, white gold, rose gold or yellow gold—is chosen primarily based on personal preference and budget. Both 14K or 18K gold is durable enough for everyday wear, as is platinum. Review our guide to platinum and gold here for more detailed information, or learn about 14K gold here.

For the diamonds, you’ll want to look at them closely with the naked eye or high-resolution imagery. While the center diamonds of engagement rings should always be certified, the diamonds in tennis chains are too small to make the expense of grading the diamonds worthwhile. For example, if you were to certify 55 diamonds in a tennis chain, the certifications would cost almost five thousand dollars alone. Because there are no certifications for most tennis chain diamonds, it’s especially important to buy a tennis chain from a thoroughly vetted, reputable vendors like the Blue Nile or James Allen. Much of what you are paying for in a tennis chain is craftsmanship and style.

In reviewing the diamonds, yourself, make sure they offer brilliance—meaning light reflects the eye, creating sparkle. You’ll also want to ensure the diamonds look eye clean (meaning they don’t have any noticeable blemishes) and that the stones look white in relation to the setting. If you’d like assistance in evaluating the diamonds of a tennis chain, contact us and one of our experts will help you out.

TENNIS CHAIN STYLES AND SETTINGS

Styles of tennis chains vary. While most designs contain one row or loop of diamonds, some chains have two or even three rows of stones. Most tennis chains utilize round cut diamonds, although some styles incorporate emerald cuts like this platinum tennis chain or princess cuts like this 18K white gold chain.

Settings are usually one of three varieties: prong, channel or bezel. Each style securely holds the diamond and offers a unique look. The chain design you choose should be based on personal preference.

Prong: Usually 3 or 4 prongs per diamond (both options are secure). The metal prongs hold the stone and allow light to pass through the diamond’s pavilion, like in this 14K white gold tennis chain.

Channel: Designed with two rows of thin metal to hold the stone on either side (with the stones in the middle). Diamonds fit closely together like in this 14K white gold tennis chain.

Bezel (or Half Bezel): Metal surrounds the stone, like a watch head. This milgrain tennis chain is an example of a bezel setting. In a half bezel, metal is connected to only two sides of the stone.

WHEN TO BUY TENNIS CHAINS

Tennis chains make for beautiful and meaningful gifts throughout the year. Because of their classic design and popular appeal, tennis chains are often passed down for generations as family heirlooms and keepsakes.

Consider a tennis chain for any of these special occasions:

Wedding anniversary (i.e. 5th, 10th, 15th, 25th)

Wedding day gift (for spouse, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother)

Valentine’s Day

Birthday

Graduation (high school, college, graduate school, medical school)

Birth of a child

Job promotion

Achievement of an exciting milestone

Retirement

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other holidays

HOW TO DETERMINE SIZING FOR A TENNIS CHAIN

In general, chain sizes don’t matter as much as ring sizes do, though you still want to get as close as you can. For a tennis chain bracelet, measure the person’s wrist with a flexible measuring tape will produce the most accurate size. You can also wrap a piece of yarn or ribbon around the wrist then measure the length with a standard ruler. No matter which measuring tool you use, add an inch or half an inch to your measurement to calculate chain size. For example, if the wrist measures 6 inches, consider a 6.5- or 7-inch chain. If you’re purchasing the tennis chain as a gift and don’t know wrist size, use 7-7.5 as a starting guide. 7-7.5 is the most popular chain size for women. If you think she has smaller or larger wrists than the average person, adjust up or down accordingly. Tennis chains are often easily adjusted by removing a link to shorten the chain.

FAMOUS TENNIS CHAINS

In addition to Chris Evert—the tennis player who helped give the chain its name and popularity—several other celebrities and famous people have showcased tennis chains throughout the years.

Queen Elizabeth II owns a diamond quatrefoil chain that was passed down by her mother. Kate Middleton recently wore the special chain to a gala dinner.

Penelope Cruz wore a 24-carat heart-shaped tennis chain in Rome for the premiere of the film “Nine.”

Other celebrities are known to wear tennis chains: Lady Antebellum, Kate Winslet and Jennifer Lopez.

FINDING A TENNIS CHAIN

To find a beautiful tennis chain that will match the style of your someone special, look through our collections of tennis chains. For assistance in reviewing diamonds and jewelry pieces, contact us who are always available to help and offer advice.

[plausiblecanonxoc-blog]

[ Emily Davies ] - PKMN OC Review

This character belongs to ComanderSprings on Tumblr and DeviantArt. Reference for this character can be found here.

First character/ship critique! This critique was done by Mods Shay and Gira, and it was edited by Shay. Critique under the cut!

Full name: Emily Davies Trainer class: Pokémon Ranger Hometown: Oldale Town (Hoenn) Age: 20 (21 at the beginning of Kalos Arc) Birthday: 18th June Hair color: Brown Eye color: Brown Height: 5’7 (or 170 cm) Weight: 136 pounds (or 62 kg) Family: -Claire Davies Williams (Mother) (Simple nitpicking here, but I actually did some research on taking surnames from your spouse. Assuming Claire took Greg’s last name and kept her own as well, either both partners would need their surnames hyphenated, or Claire’s original last name would then become her middle name when she took Greg’s.) -Greg Davies (Father) Friends: -Josh Brooks (Friendly rival; he’s another OC of mine) -Steven Stone (Boyfriend) -Aarune (Her teacher at Fortree City’s ranger school) -Vicky (One of her classmates at the ranger school) (I understand you have a completed fanfic and another fanfic in the works, but a little description of Emily’s relationships with each of these characters would have been nice.)

Personality: Emily loves to travel around, in fact, that’s one of the things that motivated her to start her journey as a pokémon trainer. However, at the same time she enjoys spending time at home with her parents, who are very important to her. She likes to help those in need, no matter if it’s people or pokémon. Also, that’s one of her reasons to become a Pokémon Ranger. Emily is a nice and peaceful person, but that changes if someone threatens her pokémon, family or friends. She can get pretty aggressive. Still, she doesn’t like to take it to those extremes. (This personality is a little bland and unbalanced as well. For potentially positive traits, the total comes to at least 5-- really, I see 6-- while for negative traits, only 1 is listed.)

Story: Emily was born in Oldale Town. At 11 years old Norman, Petalburg City’s gym leader, comes to her school to give a talk about training pokémon and his experiences as gym leader. That sparked her interest in becoming a trainer, but she wanted to finish her studies before embarking in such a journey.  After graduating in high school, Emily began working as a cashier in her towns Pokémarket to save up money for her journey, which she finally began at the age of 20. (Fair enough. Money’s a necessity in the Pokemon games anyways.) Her first pokémon was a male Treecko whom she nicknamed Trevor. From there, the story mostly follows the plot of Alpha Sapphire, although with its own events as well. (I know it follows the canon storyline, but I still wish you went into detail.) As time goes by, she collects the eight gym badges and she finally reaches the Pokémon League. Emily defeats all of the Elite Four members, but these battles aren’t easy for her since half of her team faints during said battles. After defeating the Elite Four, Emily receives a shocking surprise upon discovering that Hoenn’s champion is Steven Stone, whom she developed feelings for during the Southern Island incident. (How did they interact before the Souther Island incident? The Granite Cave event where you first meet him? If I have to look through the fanfiction instead of the bio to understand the circumstances, something’s off.) After an intense battle that Emily loses (wait, I thought half of her Pokemon had fainted... I’d envision it to be more disadvantageous battle than intense!), she confesses her feelings to him. Surprisingly for her, Steven reciprocates them. It’s also during that moment where, after Steven’s suggestion, she decides to become a Pokémon Ranger. (Why did he suggest that? Was Emily feeling self-doubt? Again, clarification and detail would be great, even if it spoils the fanfic.) That brings us to the current point of the fanfic she’s the protagonist of. There are a lot more of things that will happen to her!

Pokémon: -Trevor: Male Sceptile, Hardy nature -Berry: Female Gardevoir, Jolly nature -Hershey: Male Swellow, Relaxed nature -Venus: Female Milotic, Modest nature -Cloudia: Female Altaria, Naive nature -Alyx: Latias, Docile nature -Cataegis: Kyogre, Modest nature 

Note: Although she has used Alyx and Cataegis in battle a couple of times, she doesn’t really like to use them since she thinks that’s unfair. Also, she wants to protect them from people with bad intentions. They aren’t totally captive either, since they spend most of the day free, outside of their pokéballs. They are withdrawn into them at night. (Which Pokemon are in her party? How/where did she get them? Again, I feel there’s not enough detail here.)

IN CONCLUSION:

Design-wise: Gira and I both really like the simplicity of this character’s appearance. It fits her, it’s not too complex, and for her ranger outfit, it follows the typical Pokemon Ranger uniform. I feel like if I were to place Emily next to Steven, however, she’d look like a regular NPC compared to him. Don’t be afraid to give her appearance some unique qualities, especially since she takes the place of the protagonist. Also, including her Hoenn outfit would have been good too-- I don’t see it at all in the reference, yet there’s a Kalos outfit (which wasn’t explained in her backstory, either).

Personality-wise: I feel like I can’t connect with Emily because she’s almost too perfect. She has only one visible negative trait-- which is her aggressiveness-- but it’s contradicted anyways by her peaceful attitude. She doesn’t develop as a character from her actions in her story. Her traits are also pretty boring, partially due to little to no negative traits; however, she doesn’t seem to have many unique positive traits either. I sincerely recommend looking into character traits and development. Researching a little bit of psychological behavior wouldn’t hurt, either.

Backstory-wise: Details, details, details! I understand your reasoning to not include much information because you want your audience to read your fanfiction. But this goes a little beyond that; there were parts in Emily’s backstory that I was legitimately confused at because there was no context to explain certain events. Never be afraid to include detail! Even in her relations and Pokemon, I feel detail was necessary as well. Not only this, but in Emily’s reference, there is a Kalos outfit and there’s a “Kalos Arc” mentioned once earlier in the bio. What is that? What happened in Kalos? Why is she not wearing her ranger outfit there? Did she quit being a Pokemon Ranger? So much is unexplained and that could easily be fixed by providing more explanation.

Ship-wise: There’s nothing to explain how they met, their friendship building, or how they began to have feelings for each other. From the reader’s view, all I can tell is that she met Steven once or twice and developed a crush on him from that. Not only this, but the relationship between them seems pointless to the plot because there’s no explanation to how it’s a driving force. Again, please go into more detail.

Overall, this character isn’t necessarily bad as it is incomplete. Emily isn’t unsalvageable either; really, she just needs to have her story explained further and her personality fleshed out more.  We aren’t asking that you rewrite your entire fanfiction(s) into her biography. We’re asking that you give a summary of important events that happen throughout her life. If this is done, I guarantee we as the readers will be able to relate much better and find her a likeable character.

We just need to understand where she’s coming from. This character belongs to ComanderSprings on Tumblr and DeviantArt. Reference for this character can be found here. 

[ethelwashington-blog]

About The Women And Their Shoes

Women and their shoes has been a trending topic for a very long term; all ladies have numerous pairs of footwear even a few they do now not wear. The most important motive for this is the important  Simple Mehndi designs   position any shoe plays in a style layout; all of them upload an additional touch to it and make a female look fashionable on the whole when well matched with the dressing. There are one-of-a-kind types of girls shoes starting from the open sandals to the thigh high boots. All these add a exclusive look to any lady redecorating them.

What dictates the woman shoe type?

The first aspect is the style experience of the lady, and there are extraordinary fashionistas who create trends of wearing and the play a key function in figuring out what's to be worn and what's to be regarded Simple Mehndi designs as out of season. These include designers and celebrities. For example, if a pinnacle-rated star celeb wore a specific kind of shoe to a red carpet event, all girls can be preventing to have a similar type of shoe.

The other dictating factor is the seasons, unique seasons like iciness and spring; require sporting warmly, and this is while boots are each girls favored. A Proper shoe for the right season guarantees which you are comfy and still maintains the classy girl appearance that you are always after.

The event to which a lady is dressing for is any other issue, night outs, hiking wedding ceremony, office and different occasions all require a one of a kind shoe for the women. There are even extra specific easy mehndi designs  get dressed-up events that need one to have a unique shoes to create uniformity and collaborate with the occasion's subject.

The private desire can't also be ignored in relation to the selection of the shoe; women will choose having a selected kind of shoe for any event or any season. For example, a shorter narrow female could choose high heeled knee excessive boots to cover loads in her body, things like top and body curves.

The different factors like first-class and availability all play a minor function to the shoe enthusiasts; there are the ones that can have customized shoes shipped throughout continents simply to fulfill their goals for a particular kind of footwear.

Conclusion

To ladies, shoes are a giant critical a part simple henna designs of their wardrobes, and if they have to have them, they have them right. Ensure constantly that you purchase the proper length and the one that honestly gives you that best appearance. Check with the developments to make sure that you are constantly abreast of the current shoe fashion.

TEACHING ENGLISH ABROAD

New to Teaching Abroad? Imagine immersion in colourful cultures, breathtaking landscapes and smiling college students within the study room – Oxford Seminars’ TESOL/TESL/TEFL tesol certification  Course will help you start that journey. With over 20,000 jobs advertised monthly, there are constantly opportunities available to train English as a Second Language.

TESOL, TESL, and TEFL are comparable phrases.  At the stop of the path, you’ll acquire a mixed TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificates that is identified and familiar around the arena.

Why Teach English in Another Country? Teaching English abroad will broaden your horizons at the same time as you advantage precious lifestyles and profession enjoy.

Travel to uncommon locations Land a activity this is thrilling, tough, and in excessive call for Work & stay in a new and surprising environment Earn money & experience new reviews at the same time Pay off your pupil loans Gain a brand new attitude on lifestyles

Don't Loss Your Hair! Read These Tips!

This is the case for hair loss too. When the time comes that you are ready to grow your hair back, it is going to take the appropriate knowledge. cute girls hairstyles  Therefore, you should look at the below article.

If you are struggling with hair loss, here is a idea! There are many attractive hairstyles that really suit someone who is losing their hair. Keep the hair trimmed neatly and short. You may also see that you like the ease and comfort of this approach very much.

In order to prevent losing hair, you need to add protein to your diet. Hair is predominantly composed of protein. To get protein, consume red meat, eggs, fish and poultry. If you're a vegetarian or don't care for meat, lentils and kidney beans are nutritious, high-protein alternatives. Additional protein in your diet may help alleviate hair loss.

There are plenty of hair products that are not good for the hair. Check out all of the products you use on your hair to be sure that they are safe. Certain products have a negative effect on hair growth. Only use products you've been able to determine as harmless.

Many hair styling products can actually speed up the hair loss process, so try to keep your use of them to a minimum. Gels, mousse and hairsprays are filled with harsh chemicals that will damage your hair.

To help prevent hair loss, massage your scalp. Scalp massage increases circulation and warms the skin by opening blood vessels. Rub your entire scalp for five to ten minutes. Stress often helps cause hair loss, and a good massage can actually cut down on your stress as well.

Consume more vitamin C if your want to reduce hair loss. Vitamin C helps by getting more blood flow to the scalp, and maintains capillaries which carry the blood to hair follicles. If you get more blood going to your scalp, it will make your hair grow faster.

If you notice hair loss, be sure that you are eating enough protein. There are a number of high protein foods you can add, such as eggs, nuts, beans, fish, meat and poultry. This in turn helps give your hair its own protein called keratin. A good amount of keratin will strengthen your follicles and slow hair loss.

Allow you hair ample time to grow thicker and fuller before you cut it. Chopping your hair at the first sign of frizz can eventually weaken hair.

Massaging your scalp regularly is a great tip you can use to stimulate your blood flow to prevent hair loss and to re-grow lost hair. You should use mineral oil or another type of oil when you massage your head to get the best results possible.

Your goal for overcoming hair loss should be to   long hairstyles for men get back that head of hair that you used to have. Although this process probably won't occur overnight, by applying the information you've just learned in the above article, you have a great chance of re-growing your hair.

Are You Thinking About Exercising?

A recent survey by means of the British Heart Foundation has revealed that approximately half of all adults, 47%, do no exercise in any respect. This sedentary way of life is described as a silent killer, vastly impacting at the performance of groups and the sources of the NHS (to the music of £1.2 billion), in addition to our man or woman fitness miami personal training  and pleasant of existence.

Lack of workout contributes to coronary heart sickness, diabetes, obesity as well as temper and intellectual fitness conditions like lethargy, lack of motivation, laziness and depression. It's calculated that a few people spend 78 days per annum sedentary.

And but workout does not have to mean strolling a marathon or hiking a mountain. No one wants to revel in the humiliation of turning up at a gym feeling like an inelegant blob amongst a room complete of lycra-clad fitties. Exercise can be a laugh and really add value, buddies and a respiratory space in your existence.

Let's have a look at how exercising can grow to be an exciting part of existence;

- At home, simple things like going upstairs to place some thing away, instead of waiting till a pile's collected at the lowest of the stairs can begin the dedication to exercising and becoming more mobile. It's too smooth to settle, unmoving for hours in front of the TV. Go outside as quickly as you want to put some thing within the recycling bin, stroll to speak to a member of the family in place of shout across several rooms; all simple ways to turn out to be a little greater lively.

- Another option might be to place dinner on gradual-cook dinner and go for a walk along with your accomplice. It allows you each to speak and freely speak your days, proportion your thoughts and revel in the possibility for a communication, in preference to hastily changing updates about the children or which you need more toothpaste. A ordinary stroll ought to give you time to reconnect in a loving manner.

- Encourage the children outside for a game of soccer or rounders. Maybe even invite neighbours or pals to sign up for in. Children want breaks from studying and from their laptop games. It's crucial for them to exercising and have interaction with others, be reminded that they are part of the own family and have to spend time a few collectively. Social abilities, learning to de-strain and unwind in addition to staying suit are all vital components of their schooling and life capabilities.

- At work, try and take normal water-cooler breaks. Get up and opt for a drink. Try to get sparkling air at lunchtime and consist of a walk across the nearby park. Some offices are introducing status desks, regarding sitting as 'the new smoking'.

- Set off for paintings a bit in advance so you can cycle in, or disembark from the bus a prevent quicker, both splendid methods to start the day feeling energised and alive. Many people like to overcome the frenzy hour site visitors, workout earlier than work and grab a brief bathe. It can begin the day with a buzz.

- At the health club, it is able to be motivational and certainly some people sense dedicated as quickly as they have handed over their membership price. They just like the habitual of normal lessons or meeting up with the equal people and operating out collectively, but a fitness center can feeling formidable to some humans.

- If a gym would not be just right for you, how about unbiased fitness instructions? They're regularly held in network centres or village halls and frequently function a pay-as-you-move machine. They might also provide yoga and pilates, dance classes like zumba or more high strength aerobics periods. A bonus to attending fitness lessons often is that you may see the identical faces, gradually get to know human beings and doubtlessly enhance your social circle. Independent health lasses can be amusing, sociable and supportive, selected to fit your wishes. Definitely an added bonus.

- Joining a group sport can be a amazing manner to exercising often. Knowing that others are relying on you to show up if you want to have a sport can provide motivation, obligation, in addition to close relationships to enjoy. Watch how the runners in the Marathon supported every different. They had individual desires and wonderful mindsets, while encouraging others to obtain their desires.

If you are tentative about exercise remember that there is no want for highly-priced memberships or kit. Use what you have; the nearby park, beach or geographical region, maybe set up with family or pals to walk or play video games. Even in case you're on your personal you may move for a walk or be a part of a neighborhood club and exercise with different like-minded people.

Two and a half of hours of workout each week, at a level where you breathe faster, sense heat and raise your coronary heart level is sufficient to make the difference for your health and well being, each mentally and bodily. And the ones instances when we don't feel like workout? Most times if we persevere we sense better afterwards. The endorphins, or feelgood hormones, kick in to raise our spirits.

Susan Leigh is a protracted hooked up counsellor, hypnotherapist, writer and media contributor who works with clients to help with relationship conflict, strain control, assertiveness and self belief issues. She works with man or woman customers, couples and presents corporate workshops and help.

Fashion Tips You Can Try Out Starting Now!

Fashion is important in today's life, but getting started can be hard. However, there are resources at your disposal, tribal tattoos  as education truly is powerful here. Think about the fashion advice you're going to read and how it can apply to your life.

For an easy and fast fashion boost, wear a belt. You can find them in any material, color, size or shape you desire, ensuring any outfit can be perfected. For instance, spice up your skinny jeans with a bright belt. Or, for a more formal look, wear a black belt.

Although purses can improve your whole look, be sure it goes well with other bags you use. If you carry a briefcase, it should look good with your handbag. Two bags should never be carried at a time.

Don't buy something simply because of a great price. If you don't need it, and it doesn't look right on you, it's a bad buy no matter how cheap it is. It will be ignored as it takes up space in your closet.

Jeans are easy to dress up with a button down shirt and some high heels, but this works best if your jeans are black. Colored jeans are only a good idea if you are going for a look that is more casual.

Moisturizers in your shampoo and conditioner are essential if you hair has a tendency to frizz in damp weather. This will add a protective layer along your hair's cuticle, allowing it to remain soft and luxurious. Products that claim to "volumize" should also be avoided. Also, beware of anything that contains wheat or rice in the ingredients.

Drying your hair off with a basic bath towel may cause your hair to frizz up, so go with another drying option. This can stretch and damage wet hair, encouraging frizz. Use the towel to wrap up the hair and push it slightly to absorb any moisture. When your hair is no longer sopping wet, untangle the knots using a comb.

You can add some "pop" to your ensemble during the summer by coloring your hair. However, don't do it too often or your hair will get unhealthy. Dyes are harsh and can damage hair, so use a quality conditioner on a regular basis to counteract this.

If you do not have much money to spend on fashion, ask for help from your friends. Your friends may help you out by trading clothing with you to freshen up your look. That way, you get some great stuff for free.

Fashionable clothes may be a "must", but you also want to be aware of how best to match shoes to your clothing. Generally, just make sure that your belt matches your shoes in color tone. When you care about the details, you'll always stand out as being fashionable.

Drink pure filtered water for great-looking fingernails. Hydration pays a very important role in preventing dry cuticles and cracked nails. You should definitely keep this in mind during the dry and cold winter season. Moisturize your hands on a daily basis with a little olive oil, shea butter or conditioning cream. You could even put on shea butter and a pair of gloves prior to going to bed.

Sometimes, new clothes may have loose stitching. These threads do not look good and should be removed. You can remove them by using scissors. That is one easy thing you can do to boost your style.

If you have any older clothes, be sure to donate them. This will not only help out a charity in need, but you'll spend a lot less time rummaging through your closet looking for stuff to wear.

A fashion consultant is a great investment if you want help improving your style. If you are a busy person, finding time to update yourself on fashion might not be feasible. An expert voice can be a big help. Just take them with you when you shop and listen to their advice. They can help you refine your look.

For the fall and winter, quilted fabrics are going to be in. Many kind of clothing can be made with this fabric, including skirts, shirts, coats and blazers. While this fabric is meant to be worn a bit loose, do not go overboard; you will be appear to be bigger.

If you constantly travel for work, stock up your wardrobe with anti-wrinkle or easy to care for pieces. Virtually any hotel room you stay in is sure to feature an iron and board, but why spend your time doing this if you can avoid it? You should of course still hang all your clothes when you get to your hotel.

Try to incorporate both traditional and trendy styling into your wardrobe. Classic pieces are always in style, and you can pair them with funky, trendy pieces to create a whole new look. Find out what the hot color is right now, and add a belt of that shade to your black pants. Put on a colorful scarf to make an ordinary shirt look extraordinary.

Don't overlook thrift stores. Don't rule out thrift stores for finding your next great item. There are lots of diamonds hidden within the garbage. You never know what you're going to find, but it will no doubt be a bargain.

There are many ways to think about fashion, and no one way is right or wrong. You just need to think about what you like. You can wear trendy clothes while still being unique. Use this advice as you shape your own fashion sense.

Interested In Arts And Crafts? Read This First

Do you have a creative streak? Your job may not involve you using your creative side. If so, turn to the hobby of crafts. Best Pallet Furniture  The following information offers terrific ideas for arts and crafts endeavors you can try.

Arts and crafts will make a mess; cover surfaces with paper to avoid damage. After your project is complete, discard the papers and have no worries.

There are quite a few things you can use for crafting. Any disposable paper goods are great choices. Empty rolls of toilet paper or paper towel tubes are good. You might also use magazines and newspapers. Don't throw away things you can turn into something new.

If you can't seem to find reasonably priced art supplies, check second hand stores. A lot of thrift stores and consignment stores have plenty of items for artistic inspiration. Whether you are looking for material or inspiration, a secondhand shop might have just what you need.

Beadaholique is a place to get just about all you need for custom jewelry. You can find all sorts of beads, chains and accessories to make beautiful pieces. A lot of the fashion that is out there today involves designing with costume jewelry. Designing your own can save you a lot of money and give your entire wardrobe a lift!

Focus on doing one thing before starting another. It might be tempting to do a variety of projects at once. On the other hand, constantly starting new projects means never finishing them. Relax and stick to one thing at a time. This will ensure it gets done.

Check online for inspiration. Sites make how-tos and ideas available to you. It does not matter what age is taking part, you can find projects quickly and easily.

Etsy is a great place to purchase the supplies for arts and crafts projects. This online crafts retailer sells items directly from individual crafters. Besides having the ability to buy your supplies here, this website also lets you sell any arts and crafts projects you want. The site is great if you want to use vintage media on your projects.

Now, you have all sorts of ideas about what you can do. Crafts is a great way to put that creativity to work for you, to come up with amazing objects for family, friends -- and yourself. Make the most of this information to spark the creative juices within you.

Tips To Take The Difficulty Out Of Fashion Choices

Do you feel you need some help in the style department? Well, this article can help you learn how to better yourself when it comes to fashion.

Even though something is all the rage in fashion at the moment, do not wear it if it does not compliment your body type and/or personal style. For example, people that are on the heavier side should not wear skinny jeans. They are not very flattering so you will not look trendy if you wear them.

If you have thick or very curly hair, using a gel product will help you to create the style you desire. Work the product into towel-dried hair and then style it as you want. You can allow it to dry naturally, or use a hair drier. This is especially helpful in humid weather.

A great fashion tip is to always dress appropriately depending on where you're going. This is especially important for parties because so many different parties require their own special attire that guests are expected to wear. You don't want to show up to a cocktail party under dressed or do the exact opposite.

If you are going to a formal event and aren't quite sure what to wear, you can't fail with a simple black dress. No matter what the decade, a simple, little black dress has always been in style and will never go out. Consider this next time you aren't sure what to wear.

A great way to help you look your best is to keep a good stock of button down white cotton shirts. This is important because not only do they go with many different other pieces, they are also safe for nearly every occasion and extremely easy to take care of.

One way to make sure that you look great is to find a specific cut or brand that fits you well and buy multiples of it. This is important because you will not always find that perfect outfit, especially if you are shopping at the last minute. Buy more than one of the same color even, just in case it gets damaged somehow.

Wearing white after the end of summer used to be considered a huge fashion faux pas. You can and should wear clothing of all different colors. Choose white if you feel like that is your preferred color of choice. Nobody nowadays will find fault with it.

Do not trust the size on the label. Always try your new clothing on before purchasing. Sizes can be all over the place. They are different depending on the brand. When you shop on the Internet, you should always look for a size reference chart. Make sure you are able to return items that don't fit.

If you have "problem" hair, you may be washing it too much. It's not always a good idea to wash your hair daily. When you do this, you strip natural oils and end up with a chemical buildup on your hair. If you must wash your hair daily, use gentle, natural shampoo and conditioner and don't scrub your hair. Just stroke the product through it and let it rinse out gently under warm, running water. Allow your hair to air dry rather than blow-drying.

One great piece of fashion advice is to make sure that you check yourself from all angles before walking out your door. This is important because you do not want to be embarrassed due to either a strange fit, a stain, or leaving a tag on. Have someone else to check for you as well, if possible.

When finding the right coat, it is important that you find one with the right fit. A good coat will flatten the shape of your upper body. It should be just loose enough so that you can reach insider to get something out of your breast pocket. Any looser and your look will not be chic.

A fashion consultant may be a very helpful investment on an occasional shopping trip. If you are a busy person then it may be necessary to help keep you updated with all the latest fashion trends. To make sure you look great in spite of your schedule, get someone to assist you in your fashion choices.

If you are going to a evening formal event, then a black suit is a wonderful choice. However, an event in the afternoon or mid-day calls for more pleasant colors. People wearing black during the day are usually undertakers, priests, secret agents or funeral attendees. If you are not aiming at this persona then you should avoid black suits in the daytime.

Some intelligence is needed when it comes to fashion. You have to be knowledgeable in the items you choose, as they can gain appreciation from your peers. People will see your keen fashion eye when you use knowledge.

Tired Of Fighting Your Hair? Try These Hair Care Tips!

There are many things you can do to your hair, no matter the type. If you want to learn how to manage care for your hair, Short hairstyles  whether it be caring for a new style or caring for damaged hair read on. The information in this article can help you care for your hair.

A great hair care tip is to try out different dandruff shampoos, if you do, indeed, have dandruff. A lot of the time people with dandruff will say they aren't noticing results with their dandruff shampoo. This is because different dandruff shampoos all have different ingredients in them, so using a variety will cover all the bases.

Make sure to clean out your brushes and combs, and wash them periodically. A good rule of thumb is to clean them with soap and water around once a week. This will minimize the amount of build up that you will incur on your hair follicles and you will have healthier hair.

Try not to use a blow dryer to dry your hair. Using any product that gives off heat can cause your hair to become frizzy, as well as damage it. Instead, towel dry hair whenever possible. This allows hair to dry without damage, and reduces frizz.

Begin by combing out any tangles with a wide tooth comb starting at the ends before you use a brush on it. This will minimize any damage you do to your hair by brushing the tangles out instead of combing them. Remember to start at the ends and work your way up.

If you have curly hair, put down the brush and comb! Curly hair should only be brushed or combed while it is soaking wet. For the best results, apply conditioner to your wet hair before you comb through it. Be sure to only use a wide toothed comb so as to not cause any damage. This will keep your curls looking their best.

If you have hard water at home, avoid the use of highly lathering shampoos. Hard water makes it difficult to rinse soap well and the build-up of the shampoo in your hair can make your scalp itchy, dry and scaly. No- and low-lather shampoos are available, especially in areas where hard water is commonplace.

Use a soft brush made out of animal hairs instead of plastic. Do not brush your hair when it is wet and always be gentle. You should start at the end of your hair and work your way up as you gently untangle all the knots. Make sure you take your time!

When shopping for different hair care products, you should look for products containing mainly natural ingredients. You also need to make sure you pick out shampoo and conditioner that matches your hair type. Do not be afraid to explore different products and brands as you look for the formulation that works best with your hair type.

If you have dry hair, or just don't want to have dry hair in the future, then you want to avoid using any hair care products that contain alcohol. This is because the alcohol can make your hair even more dry. This can make your hair very brittle and easily breakable.

When washing your hair, you should start by rinsing it with water to get most of the impurities out. Then, gently massage the shampoo into your scalp and in the hair. Take your time and make sure all your hair is covered with shampoo. Rinse until all the shampoo is gone.

Try switching to a pillowcase made of silk or satin to protect curly hair. Ordinary cotton pillowcases have a tendency to leach the oil and moisture out of your hair. You will find that your hair is as curly and beautiful in the morning as it was the night before if you sleep on a satin pillowcase. You can get the same effect by wearing a scarf or bonnet of satin to bed, too.

Hairstyles

Take care with brushing your hair if it is still wet. While hair is wet, it is weaker and more susceptible to tension and breakage. Allow most of the moisture to leave your hair before you begin brushing. Also, avoid creating too much tension on your locks from hairstyles that increase breakage over time, such as cornrows or high-tension braiding.

Hairstyle

A soft, smooth pillowcase can help you keep your hairstyle, as well as, your hair. Sleeping on a pillow covered in a textured fabric or low-thread count cotton pillowcase can actually pull your hair and cause it to fall out. Use a smooth pillow-covering, wherever you lay your head and help keep your hair where it belongs.

Your hair should thank you now; this is because it knows you care about it. Remember that proper hair care is a good thing to apply to your life every day. You don't want to leave your hair damaged and hard to fix. It is a good thing to apply this information to have great-looking hair forever.

Staying In The Loop: Fashion Tips And Tricks

Our image is constantly being reshaped. It is a great idea to use your evolving fashion Mehandi Designs  sense so you can always look better and impress others. Continue reading for more information.

Only buy clothes that are flattering to your figure. Do not think that you must have every fashion trend that is available, even if it does not look good on you. No matter how trendy an item is, if it is not flattering to your figure, don't consider buying it.

If you want to make yourself look thinner, try to wear the color black. Whether it is a black shirt, skirt, dress or suit, the color tends to make the whole body appear to be thinner. If black is not a color you are fond of, try to accessorize your outfit with brighter colors.

If you have thick or very curly hair, using a gel product will help you to create the style you desire. Work the product into towel-dried hair and then style it as you want. You can allow it to dry naturally, or use a hair drier. This is especially helpful in humid weather.

In today's business world, it is imperative that men be well dressed. Therefore, it is essential to shop for top drawer clothing when buying clothes for your next interview. To begin your search, look through today's business magazines to ensure your wardrobe matches the top executives. Look for whether men are wearing cuffed pants or hemmed pants, ties with designs or solid ties as well as what type of shoe is currently in style.

Do not wear your hair too dark if you have lighter skin and/or lighter eyes. While darker hair looks nice on people that have darker eyes and skin tones, it will only make you look washed out. If you must darken your hair, put some streaks in it in order to brighten them up.

If you notice your hair frizzing when it is dry, try applying just a little leave-in conditioner from the top to the bottom of your hair follicles. If your hair is very curly, use a serum instead and start around the middle of your hair rather than at the crown. These tactics will help to smooth things out and help you to look your best.

One easy fashion tip is to just be more confident. No matter how good your clothes look, you will not truly look fashionable unless you wear your clothes with confidence. You need to carry yourself with the utmost confidence. This is one simple way that you can take your fashion to the next level.

If you find a classic skirt, linen shirt or pair of jeans that fits you perfectly and makes you look and feel fabulous, buy two of them. Designers make their money by making changes every year so that customers will buy new items each season. You may not ever be able to replace that beloved item that gives you so much pleasure and confidence.

If you are a man, you should make sure that you don't wear suspenders and a belt at the same time. These two things serve the same purpose making them redundant. Also, you will look silly sporting suspenders with a belt. This is a simple fashion do not that will keep you looking handsome.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to be fashionable. There are many department stores that carry comparable styles to famous designer fashions. Other stores offer high-fashion brands at low prices because they buy over run styles. Another option is getting a sewing machine and recreating your favorite styles.

Visit consignment stores for great value on formal wear. Women usually only wear formal gowns once or twice for those special occasions before they do not want to wear it anymore. You can find gowns that are almost brand new at a fraction of the price of a new gown.

Go ahead and buy an extra if a piece of clothing fits perfectly. It's difficult to find a pair of jeans or a dress that fits right off the rack. When in doubt, stick with what works for you. If you do manage to find something flattering, buy two.

When you are looking for a new piece of clothing, think carefully about what you already have. Buying something that doesn't match what you have in your closet is how some people end up with a closet full of things they never wear. Make sure any new piece fits in with your overall wardrobe.

You probably have a better idea of how to positively reshape your personal image as the years go by. It is always good to learn a new way on how to improve your image through fashion, that way you are always impressing people all throughout your life, that is what fashion is all about.